Smyth (Gaybrook)
The Smyths of county Westmeath descend from a Yorkshire family, a member of whom settled in Ireland in the early seventeenth century. By the mid-nineteenth century a number of branches of the family held estates in the county, including those of Gaybrook, Drumcree, Ballynagall, Glananea and Barbavilla. This was the most senior branch of the Smyth family who were settled at Gaybrook by the late eighteenth century. They descend from the Right Rev William Smyth, Bishop of Kilmore (died 1698), who ‘purchased different estates in Westmeath from Ford FitzWilliam of Merrion, and others 1670’ (Burkes Landed Gentry of Ireland, 1904, 559). By the mid-nineteenth century Robert Smyth held lands in a number of county Westmeath parishes including Enniscoffey. In the 1870s he is recorded as owning 6,287 acres in the county and 5,592 acres in county Antrim.
Associated Families
No associated families were found for this estate
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaybrook House | Gaybrook Demesne | Enniscoffey | Mullingar | Gaybrook | Westmeath |
OSI Ref: N465464
OS Sheet: 26 Discovery map: 48 |
Archival sources
- Wardenstown Papers include papers re Smyth of Gaybrook, 1793-1871. D3549/L; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
- Family letters and estate papers of the Smyths of Gaybrook, Co. Westmeath, including a rental of their Co. Antrim estates, 1842. 18-19c. Ms. 10,658; National Library of Ireland
- "Photostat" copies of maps and surveys of part of the estate of Ralph Smyth in Co. Westmeath. By John Brownrigg, John Byrne, Daniel Giraghty and James O'Donnell, 6 maps with names of tenants, 1783-1813. With plans of Gaybrook House, Mullingar, 1840. Ms. 2799; National Library of Ireland
- Account book of a farm at Gaybrook, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, of the family of Smyth, with accounts of daily income and expenditure, stock bought, etc., 1839 - 1856. Ms. 12,165; National Library of Ireland
- Forty deeds relating to the properties and members of the family of Smyth of Gaybrook, Co. Westmeath, 17th to 19th c. D. 16,431-16,470; National Library of Ireland
- Rough draft release of the marriage portion of Mrs Hannah Smyth, widow, nee Staples [daughter of Sir Robert Staples, 7th Bt, widow of Ralph Smyth of Gaybrook, Co. Westmeath, and called 'Anna Maria' by Burke's Peerage and Baronetage], which had been charged on the Staples estate in Co. Cavan. 1829. Also their marriage settlement, 1799.; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
- Vandeleur Family (Wardenstown) Papers. Selection of papers pertaining to the Smyth family of Gaybrook, County Westmeath, believed to have been salvaged by the Vandeleur family. 1793, 1837 and 1871. MS 51,572/140, MS 42,807/5; National Library of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Mullingar Union, 139 (Gaybrook)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: 1, 602
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 195
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 367